Bucs @ Falcons:
This was the had-to-have-it game of the week. If you didn’t have Kirk Cousins or Darnell Mooney in your lineup, there’s a good chance you may have lost. Cousins shredded Tampa’s defense to the tune of 509 yards and four touchdowns. Mooney was fantastic, going for 9 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Not to be overshadowed was Drake London, who had 12 receptions on 13 targets for 154 yards and a touchdown. Even Kyle Pitts had an outstanding game with 15.8 fantasy points. The only person who put up a dud was Bijan Robinson who only had 61 yards rushing and three receptions for 16 yards. If you took Robinson with one of the top three picks, I certainly can’t blame you, but it hasn’t paid off yet. For Tampa Bay, they got a little unlucky with some penalties that weren’t called at the end of the game and were led by Mike Evans, who had 62 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Tampa ran the ball effectively, which helped Baker Mayfield, who had 180 yards and three touchdowns, but when they needed a big play, they just weren’t able to get it at the end of the game.
DENVER, COLORADO – NOVEMBER 19: Ty Chandler #32 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball after a catch against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on November 19, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Jets @ Vikings:
At one point during this game, you would have thought that the Vikings were going to win in a rout, but with the NFL, things don’t always work out as they seem. The Jets had a chance to win this game, but Aaron Rodgers threw his third interception. It was good to see that Rodgers connected with Garrett Wilson, who had a whopping 22 targets. This is the game that Garrett Wilson’s fantasy managers have been waiting for since he’s shown no synchronicity with Rodgers to this point. Wilson finished the game with 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. The biggest problem was the Jets rushing game. Breece Hall had 9 carries for 23 yards, and Braelon Allen had five carries for 13 yards. If you watch the game closely, you can see that Hall is standing a little bit in front of Rodgers when they hike the ball, so there’s no way that he can get ahead of steam and run downhill. This is preventing him from making big plays. For Minnesota, Sam Darnold threw for 179 yards, but he didn’t have a touchdown. Justin Jefferson had 6 receptions for 92 yards. Aaron Jones left the game with a hip injury, but with the Vikings off on BYE next week, Jones should have time to heal and be ready to go in Week 7. Ty Chandler filled in for him and will be the guy they lean on if Jones misses any time. T.J. Hockenson could be back then, too.
CHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 21: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball against DeShon Elliott #32 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of a NFL preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Keane/Getty Images)
Panthers @ Bears:
Please don’t look at this game and say that Caleb Williams is a great quarterback because I don’t think he is. Williams had 304 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 34 rushing yards, but the Carolina defense is a sieve, and they absolutely do NOT know how to tackle. DJ Moore had a great game in a revenge narrative spot with five receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Roschon Johnson had two rushing touchdowns, and it was also good to see D’Andre Swift with 73 rushing yards and a touchdown to go along with two receptions for 47 yards. For Carolina, Andy Dalton couldn’t get anything going even though the Panthers got out to an early lead. Chuba Hubbard ran for 97 yards and a touchdown, but he only had four receptions for -2 yards. The Bears played excellent defense and held Dionte Johnson to three receptions for 23 yards; when that happens, Carolina has no chance to win.